Estimating Square Roots – “Price is Right”

“The Price is Right”

Goal of the game is to estimate the square root closest to the exact answer.

Used with 8th graders

Supplies: All students get whiteboards, markers and erasers.

Show “Price is Right” clip

Do one practice round—give students a square root to estimate. Have them compare their response to the actual answer (do it on the calculator). As a class decide who is closest. Show them that if they provide more decimal places they have a better chance of winning.

Call down the first four “contestants” with their whiteboards (using sticks).

Give students a square root to estimate. All students estimate the square root to support the contestants.

The “contestant” with the closest estimate wins that round.

After all students have had an opportunity to participate, do a final round (or a couple semi then a final round) to get an over winner!